1
as in to disobey
to go against the commands, prohibitions, or rules of
in those days a woman was brave if she defied fashion and wore white after Labor Day
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to confront
to oppose (something hostile or dangerous) with firmness or courage
a rescue team willing to defy the raging storm
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to resist
to refuse to give in to
a bicyclist who regularly defies illness and infirmity in order to compete in races
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of defy
New York — The stock market rally has already defied expectations this year, shrugging off geopolitical strife, economic uncertainty and global trade tensions to reach fresh record highs.
—
John Towfighi, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Nkrumah was crucial in jumpstarting the Ghanaian film industry, building a studio to produce work that conveys an Africa that defies the expectations promoted by colonizers.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 25 Oct. 2025
Nonetheless, Anderson’s latest may be the rare film that defies category lines with a blend of high-concept spectacle and political farce.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
However, experts told McClatchy News that politically motivated attacks often defy neat categorization.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
John Towfighi, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Nkrumah was crucial in jumpstarting the Ghanaian film industry, building a studio to produce work that conveys an Africa that defies the expectations promoted by colonizers.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 25 Oct. 2025
Nonetheless, Anderson’s latest may be the rare film that defies category lines with a blend of high-concept spectacle and political farce.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
However, experts told McClatchy News that politically motivated attacks often defy neat categorization.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defy
Verb
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Harvick said the agency gave lawful orders for the crowd to move back, which were disobeyed.—
Daniella Silva,
NBC news,
20 Oct. 2025
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In Missouri, disobeying traffic lights is considered a moving violation.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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It is aimed at combining the cultural influence of its host city with the daring fashion that dances across the pages of the magazine.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
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Photos shared by the brand Seventy One Gin — which was serving up golden martinis throughout the evening — showed the mom-of-four rocking two daring outfits for the occasion.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For four weeks, Haddish travels with her longtime best friends Selena Martin, Shermona Long, and Sparkle Clark to have a good time, of course, but to also do some bonding, confront some truths, and do some healing.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
24 Oct. 2025
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Why would any politician in his or her right mind wish to confront an informed citizenry capable of breaking down the campaign speeches into their subsets of supporting lies?—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Epstein has resisted the obvious move to monetize it.—
Patrick Iversen,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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The family—an ambivalent institution bar none—shapes us, and yet our individuality resists that shaping.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Over the summer the FDA convened a panel on the safety of certain antidepressants in pregnancy that tried to cast doubt on this research, ignoring the real harms of not treating depression or anxiety for pregnant people themselves and for their fetuses.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
23 Oct. 2025
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But the writers, like Noah and Joanne, are ignoring that fundamental fork in the road in favor of inane high jinks from the couple and their increasingly irksome friends and family.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The surging price of gold is boosting some developing economies, challenging the US dollar’s hegemony — and changing jewelry designs.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
21 Oct. 2025
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Changes to the regulatory framework and fleet incentives further challenged the business, Barra also said.—
Jackie Charniga,
Freep.com,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At home, Takaichi faces her own challenges.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
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The president and his party have faced three corruption scandals this year, while Argentina’s slowing economy and frustration with high unemployment rates helped push Milei’s approval to the lowest level of his term ahead of the vote.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Kentucky Republican Rand Paul has opposed the legislation on multiple occasions.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Oct. 2025
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The group exhausts and irritates opposing pitchers.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defy. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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